Keep the fire burning

I lit our wood stove upstairs for the first time this season.  It's not really cold yet - maybe in the upper 30's outside - but maybe the warmth of the stove will give Nicole and Jacqueline a little more motivation to get up and going today.  It won't be long before the first snow falls, and the aspens are already blazing on the mountainsides - patches of brilliant yellow and orange that pop out among the evergreens.  I think Daphne and I will take Gwyn for a drive up to Kenosha pass this afternoon where the entire side of the mountain is on fire with aspen trees.  It's a sight you'll never forget.

 I was awake again early this morning, lost in my own thoughts.  The work on the country store has been stalled for two weeks now as we work on gathering the necessary paperwork to apply for the remodel permit.  I can tell that our little church team is beginning to drop their arms, and we're losing the excitement that we all felt when we first leased the building.  How do we keep everyone engaged when there's nothing we can work on together?  If we could at least be painting it would help, but the inspector won't allow ANY work on the building until we have the permit.  Dan is building our log furniture, but he's also feeling discouraged because he's working alone the majority of the time.  I would love to help him more, but I'm preoccupied with finding a contractor, an engineer and an asbestos inspector who will work with us on a pro bono basis; not an easy task in a depressed economy when everyone needs all the work they can get.  I'm finding that it's a balancing act to keep the team engaged in Bailey, stay engaged myself with my own family, and stay in touch with our church team here in Conifer.  Yesterday Daphne and I went to look at a log home that's for sale in Bailey - right down the street from where we used to live on Tincup Terrace.  It's a beautiful home on 10 acres of land with a magnificent view of Mt Rosalie, and the price is amazingly reasonable.   If it were just she and I we would move in heartbeat.  But we have three girls who have ties to Conifer, and I can't see us moving at least until after Nicole graduates. 

While I'm writing this, Duke has his head on the armrest - looking up at me with his big, sad, Labrador eyes.  I know it's his breakfast time, but I pretend like I don't know what he wants.  After about a minute he will stick his head over my keyboard to keep me from typing.  If that doesn't work he climbs half-way up on my recliner - which is as far as he can fit - and then he stares at me from six inches away.   The more I ignore him, the closer he'll get to my face till I finally give in.  He won't leave me alone until I get him what he wants...